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SB63 128090-2 By Senator Orr RFD: Finance and Taxation General Fund First Read: 07-FEB-12 PFD: 11/18/2011

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128090-2:n:10/11/2011:FC/tj LRS2011-1804R1

SYNOPSIS:

Under existing law, the employment of prisoners within the Department of Corrections facilities by private industry is not authorized. This bill would specifically authorize the Department of Corrections to contract or enter into agreements with private industry to establish work-oriented rehabilitation programs within facilities located on property owned or operated by the Department of Corrections or any prison facility housing inmates sentenced to the department.

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT

To amend Sections 14-7-7 and 14-7-22, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to the Department of Corrections prison industries, inmate training, and inmate rehabilitation; to authorize the department to contract with private industry for

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on-site work programs; and to further provide vocational training and the rehabilitation of inmates through greater utilization of prison industries. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA: Section 1. Sections 14-7-7 and 14-7-22, Code of Alabama 1975, are amended to read as follows: "14-7-7. "It is hereby declared to be the intent of this chapter: "(1) To provide more adequate, regular and suitable employment for the vocational training and rehabilitation of the prisoners of this state, consistent with proper penal purposes;. "(2) To utilize the labor of prisoners for self-maintenance, and for reimbursing this state for expenses incurred by reason of their crimes and imprisonment; and, and for initial living expenses upon reentry into the community following release from prison. "(3) To effect the requisitioning and disbursement of prison products directly through established state authorities without possibility of private profits therefrom. "(4) To provide prison industry projects designed to place inmates in working and training environments in which they are able to acquire marketable skills and earn money to off-set the cost of incarceration, make payments for restitution to their victims, provide support for their families, and prepare for their release from prison.

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"14-7-22. "(a) On and after August 13, 1976, it It shall be unlawful for the Department of Corrections to sell or offer for sale on the open market of this state any articles or products manufactured wholly or in part in this or any other state by prisoners of this state or any other state, except prisoners participating in community correction programs, as defined under Section 15-18-170, et seq., or on parole, or probation, or any other kind of community supervision. "(b) Any person who willfully violates the provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be confined in jail for not less than 10 days nor more than one year or shall be fined not less than $10.00 ten dollars ($10) nor more than $500.00 five hundred dollars ($500), or both, in the discretion of the court." Section 2. (a) In order to implement work-oriented rehabilitation programs in an actual private enterprise work environment, the Commissioner of the Department of Corrections may contract or enter into agreements with private individuals, enterprises, partnerships, or corporations to develop joint plants, businesses, factories, or commercial enterprises. The contracts or agreements shall be limited to those in which the department contracts or agrees to furnish inmate labor for the manufacture of articles or products or to furnish inmate labor for the provision of service in facilities furnished by the department or the party or parties

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and enter into contracts or agreements with the department. The facilities shall be on property owned or operated by the department or at any prison facility housing inmates sentenced to the department. (b) An inmate may participate in the program established pursuant to this section only on a voluntary basis and only after he or she has been informed of the conditions of his or her employment. (c) Inmates participating in programs where articles or products are manufactured in part or in whole shall earn not less than the prevailing wage for work of a similar nature in the private sector. The earnings of an inmate authorized to work at paid employment pursuant to this act shall be paid directly to the department. The department shall adopt rules concerning the disbursement of any earnings of the inmates involved in a program established pursuant to this section, including the payment of any court ordered restitution. The department shall withhold from an inmate's earnings the costs incident to the inmate's confinement, as the department shall deem appropriate and reasonable, and the moneys collected shall be deposited into the Department of Corrections Special Revenue Fund. In no event shall the withheld earnings exceed 40 percent of the gross earnings of the inmate. The department shall also comply with any order from a court of proper jurisdiction that directs the withholding of funds from an inmate's personal funds, not to exceed 40 percent of the earnings of the inmate. After all expenses have been deducted

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by the department, the remainder of the inmate's earnings shall be credited to his or her account with the department. All such manufacturing programs shall be operated in compliance with the Federal Prison Industries Enhancement Act codified at 18 U.S.C. 1761(c). (d) An inmate participating in the program shall not be considered an employee of the state and shall not be entitled to employee benefits. (e) All products, goods, or items produced by work done under the auspices of contracts or agreements with the Department of Corrections shall be marketed by the party or parties that entered into the contract or agreement. In no instance may the department market these products, goods, or items. (f) The Commissioner of the Department of Corrections may enter into contracts necessary to implement the prison industry program. The contractual agreements may include rental or lease agreements for state buildings or sale or lease of land on the grounds at an institution or a facility of the department and provide for reasonable access to and egress from the building to establish and operate a facility. Rental or lease agreements shall be exempt from the provisions and requirements of Chapter 16 of Title 41 of the Code of Alabama 1975, and other competitive bid laws. (g) The Department of Corrections and the party or parties that enter into contracts or agreements under this act

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shall be exempt from the provisions or penalties of Sections 14-5-2 and 14-7-22 of the Code of Alabama 1975. (h) Nothing in this section or act shall cause a reduction in the number of prisoners provided for training and work programs conducted on the campus of and by a two-year college and all such programs shall be provided a satisfactory number of prisoners for their prison education programs and all such prison education appropriations shall continue to fund such programs within the two-year college system as set forth in the Education Trust Fund budget. Section 3. This act shall become effective immediately following its passage and approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.

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